Without Guilt

Chapter XIX: Take the Joke

A loud metallic scraping echoed through the empty street as Kumi tried to force the door of the casino open.

The building had been bordered up from the inside which made it near impossible to find a way through, but he managed to push against the door until whatever was blocking it from the inside began to move.

"T-" He grunted with the effort. "Can you slide through?"

Otis took one last quick scan of the street to make sure they hadn't announced to every damn thing within a 5-mile radius that they were here, but nothing stirred. He moved quickly towards the door, ducking under Kumi's arm to try and see inside.

It was pitch black save for some dusty streams of light cutting through boarded up windows further inside.

"Some time today?" Kumi suggested, unable to push the door further. A bike chain had been looped around the handles of the twin doors, trapping it.

Otis shot him a disgruntled look, partially at the expectation that he could get through such a small gap. It was true that he was physically smaller than Kumi, but that didn't mean he was petite. He unshouldered his rifle then shrugged his bag off, casting one last glance to the street before tossing them inside through the gap.

"Careful in there." Kumi warned.

Otis squeezed in sideways, having to drag himself to get through but not without some rough scraping. He remembered to breathe once he was inside, retrieving his discarded items as he straightened up.

Part of him wished they'd been able to bring Dorothy. She would have squeezed past the small spaces without a problem, though right now she was with Dominique in the safety of the warehouse they'd found last night.

"How's that chain look?" Kumi asked from behind the door, trying to peer inside.

Otis clicked his flashlight on, the beam sweeping the grand lobby where piles of garbage and scaffolding appeared to be the main feature. He'd turn towards the door, taking the rusted chain in one hand to turn it over slowly before shouldering aside the armchair blocking the way.

He unholstered his gun from behind his belt, the lighter weight of the 9mm feeling strange in his hand since he was so accustomed to the steady weight of the revolver. Less recoil on this one though, and a fitted silencer.

A well-aimed shot shattered the lock, allowing him to set free the chain and pull the door open.

"Hope it was worth the bullet." Kumi sighed as he came inside, pushing the furniture back in place to trap the door. They didn't need any unexpected guests following them inside while they swept through the place. "What're the chances it hasn't been picked clean already?" He questioned.

Otis gave a shrug as he returned his gun to its hiding place, moving towards the reception area. Films of dust and cobwebs promised an untouched loot cave beyond, though the picture didn't always match the description.

The best-case scenario would be if it really hadn't been touched since the Hunters had run the Military out of Pittsburgh. It was a relatively large building too and could take a few days to comb through thoroughly, but if it really proved to be a jackpot then it would save them having to venture even further out from the QZ.

"Hey, T…" Kumi called from the further side of the lobby. "How do you think those FEDRA bastards left this place?" He questioned; his torch focused on a door beneath the stairs against which furniture had been stacked.

Bloody fingerprints had been left on the handle and keyhole suggesting a desperate attempt to lock it behind whoever fled here.

Otis moved over to join him in inspecting it for a moment before moving around the wall to determine where it might lead. His guess was that it probably descended into lower levels judging by its location.

Deliveries were usually made around the back of business establishments so that they didn't inconvenience guests or make a mess as they were being transported, although that didn't mean a quick access route wasn't always available for staff. Especially if it led to electric or water systems that required regular maintenance.

Maybe it even led to an underground garage. A small detachment of FEDRA soldiers had been using it as a safe house between all the fighting, there was a chance they'd left a vehicle behind – nothing worth trying to start, the batteries would be long dead, but there was a chance they had some fuel left in them or radio equipment.

He'd flash his light at Kumi to get his attention.

"Hey- watch you don't blind me with that thing." Kumi complained. "What? You want to go through that obviously dangerous door?"

Otis shook his head, then indicated the stairs leading into the rest of the establishment.

They didn't have time for expeditions and there was only two of them, so the risk was not worth the reward even if there was something down there.

Kumi seemed relieved at the sensible choice being made, following him up the rot infested steps. They creaked in protest to the disturbance, making him worry that they might give any minute.

Otis didn't seem as concerned though his steps were naturally lighter.

"Oi, don't go running off now!" Kumi called after him as he finally reached the landing, his hand gripping the remains of the banister tightly.

Otis didn't seem to pay him much attention, carrying on towards what looked like a café.

Mouldy green wallpaper clung stubbornly to the walls, a poor choice of carpet taking up parts of the wooden flooring.

"Ugh, whoever they hired to design this place really did them dirty." Kumi mused, weaving his way between the dust-streaked armchairs and sofas.

Otis was already at the counter, digging through the cupboards.

Kumi came up to the counter, propping his arms atop the wood and watching him. "Man, you really love your coffee, don'cha?" He mused.

Otis managed a quiet hum in response – better vocalised than the past two days at least. He managed to find a musty packet of sugar and some smaller sachets in one cupboard, dumping their contents into a ziplock bag before stashing them into his backpack.

"Is that stuff even alright to eat anymore?" Kumi questioned, deciding to make himself useful by checking the kitchen door. It was jammed, naturally.

Otis was too busy tinkering to really help him out, but for times like this-

The sound of the wood splintering as Kumi twisted his crowbar was like nails on chalkboard, setting their teeth on edge, but at least the door gave quickly against the pressure. They managed to push it aside without much more delay, entering the small kitchen beyond.

Rusty appliances, more dust and grease stains had infested everything. Unwashed cutlery had grown lab cultures in the sink, and Kumi really didn't want to find out what the inside of the large fridge might contain.

Otis rifled through the drawers for any surviving cutlery, extracting three knives and a pair of scissors so overused that they'd been taped together in a poor attempt to continue.

"Seriously, I gotta know…" Kumi said as he entered the pantry. "What are you doing with all that stuff?" He questioned, turning over some dispenser bottles of flavoured syrups. Caramel waffle, pumpkin spice, toffee nut- they'd all congealed into sugary hell. "Man, I don't remember the last time I visited a café." He sighed. "I think Dom would've liked it. She's big on herbal teas."

Otis threw something at him which made him jump.

"Jesus- fuck!" He scrambled, kicking it as it fell like a rodent was attacking him. "Otis, what the fuck?!" He complained, exhaling an exasperated breath as he stared down at the tattered box.

"Tea." Otis said flatly, taking an empty creamer tin from the side to push the found blade fragments through its body. The casings would remain empty for now, but it was a trail test.

Kumi glared at his back for a minute before bending down to pick up the box. Inside were individually wrapped tea bags of 'chamomile'. "Huh… wonder how this survived." He mused, sliding it into his backpack.

Otis shrugged a shoulder. "No one drinks… tea at…" The rest was lost to pain from forcing himself to talk. It was perhaps too soon. He was tired of his tasting blood half the time, but at least his tongue didn't feel like a slug had crawled its way into his mouth anymore.

Kumi sorted through more piles of rubbish and stuff that couldn't be used until he'd emptied half the shelves. "Hey, T…" He called. "Look at this." He dragged out the first of the still sealed cardboard boxes.

Otis moved over to inspect what he'd found. He used his switchblade to cut the first box open, squinting in the dim light to read the packet labels. His expression quickly showed his disappointment.

"What? Is it no good?" Kumi asked as he pulled a second box.

Otis shook his head, retrieving one of the flour bags to cut it open. Pouring it out under his torch light. Miniature dark insects crawled through the white dunes, wriggling as they were exposed to the open air.

"Ugh. The whole lot's fucked then." Kumi grumbled. He didn't really know that flour expired, but he figured the same would be true of the yeast and other powdery goods in the boxes.

"Honey." Otis croaked, when Kumi opened the final box.

"It's hard as fuck, look at it." Kumi picked up one of the jars, shaking it fruitlessly.

Otis shook his head, having to mouth out that it was still good.

Kumi hummed. "Well, least we're not walking out with nothing." He mused, collecting the jars. There were only four of them in the crate, but it was a start.

Their scavenging brought up some dried lavender still unopened in its pack, dried fruit, some nuts and two bars of dark chocolate.

As far as a first day find, it was lucky, though still not exactly ideal for the population requirements.

By the time they swept through the café, the restaurant, and the lobby, their backpacks were half full, but the daylight hours had also faded and the sound of a snowstorm picking up made the wind whistle through the old building.

"Think we should head back?" Kumi asked, joining him in one of the game rooms.

Long faded gambling tables and slot machines stood like relics of the past, their tokens and playing cards just left out for the rats to enjoy. Worthless.

Otis idly gave the roulette a spin, though its ball was missing so it didn't quite have the same satisfying effect. He unshouldered his bag, retrieving the currently empty tin he'd filled with shrapnel and placing it on the table while he retrieved the sugar and explosive powder.

"What're you making?" Kumi joined him, examining the set up as each powder was carefully measured and compiled.

"Bomb." Otis replied shortly, satisfied with the soft hiss of the components as they merged.

"A… that? That's a bomb?" The younger man uttered warily.

Otis gave a half nod before shrugging.

"Seriously, Meyer, what the fuck did you do before all this?" He had wondered that a lot. Dominique had told him that Otis had been in prison before, but she didn't know what the charges were, only that he was frequently in trouble with the law.

They'd made bets about it before. William had come out with the bizarre conclusion that Otis must have been a cage fighter, Dominique merely dispelled that by pointing out his physique came from hard work on the farm and not an illegal gambling set up. Kumi couldn't think of anything other than Army, but Layla had been more sensible and suggested a mechanic to which they all agreed in the end.

It seemed the most logical conclusion right now too.

Otis stepped back once he was satisfied with the smoke gently rising from the can. He would have to try it sometime, preferably outdoors.

"Okay, can we go now before the storm hits? I want to get back to Dominique and Dorothy." Kumi prompted, making for the door.

They had just reached the landing heading down when the sound of furniture scrapping against the wood flooring echoed in the lobby.

The two men froze, hands flying to their weapons as they ducked on the stairs.

Voices were heard - one belonging to a woman and the other more quiet belonging to a man.

"I'm glad to be out of that shit weather, aren't you?" The woman was saying, shaking snow out of her hair.

Her companion grunted his response, heaving the armchair aside and jamming the legs of a plastic chair through the handles to provide a more sufficient lock.

Kumi made to line up his gun for the woman as she sauntered closer, spinning freely like she didn't have a care in the world.

Otis lay a bandaged hand over Kumi's gun, gently lowering the barrel.

It was two against two, but that wasn't what made him interrupt. They had the element of surprise as far as Kumi was concerned and he looked to Otis questioningly.

"Look at that. Looks like they were redecorating." The woman came to a slow halt by the scaffolding around one of the pillars.

"Tess." Her companion called out to her, indicating the boxes they brought with them. Surely she didn't expect him to carry everything alone, they'd been hauling it through the snow for hours already and he was eager to set it down somewhere safe.

"Just leave it there." She called back to him, turning to the stairs.

She froze as she spotted the two men.

"Tess?" It didn't take her partner long to realise something was wrong from the way she stood, his hand immediately moving to his gun.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Kumi warned, his gun already ready.

"Easy now." The other man held his hands up, keeping a calm composure as he tried to determine how many others were lurking about.

Otis nudged Kumi lightly as he moved past him, his handgun held loosely.

Tess was already working on a plan for a swift exit, but paused when she saw him. Her expression immediately changed. "Meyer!"

Otis gave her a nod in greeting, his injured hand held close to his body as he descended the last few steps to meet her.

"Meyer?" The other man squinted, moving closer slowly. "Son of a bitch." He exhaled, relaxing only a fraction.

"You scared us." Tess sighed in relief.

Kumi slowly lowered his gun, a bit confused by the change in atmosphere.

Joel didn't seem as happy to see Otis as Tess did, standing aside awkwardly as Tess shook the man's good hand.

"Where have you been? We passed by your old place in Area 4, figured you weren't going to use it anymore so…" Tess shrugged, briefly looking to Kumi. She didn't recognise him of course.

Otis shook his head.

"Long story?" Tess questioned as he looked back to him, finding his silence a little unusual.

"He can't talk right now." Kumi filled in, earning a confused frown from the woman.

"Can't talk?"

"Yeah, uh…" Kumi rubbed his neck as he came to stand beside Otis, not sure how much was okay to share. "Swallowed some needles."

"Let me see." Tess insisted, casually grabbing the man's face to prompt him to open his mouth.

Otis leaned back but ended up submitting to her determination.

"They finally shut you up, huh." Joel noted, neither in pity nor gloating. It was a simple acknowledgment as though it was a foreseeable end.

Tess was grimacing at the state of his tongue, studying it with morbid fascination until Otis peeled her hands off him. "Smuggler work ain't always easy." She sympathised, patting his shoulder.

Otis scoffed lightly before looking over her shoulder at Joel. "Tommy?" He questioned, the sound a dry rasp that was nearly lost to the room.

"Nope." Joel dismissed. "I thought you'd know more about him since you… took him in." He implied, his glance over Otis bordering on unkind.

"T, who are these people?" Kumi asked, squaring up to Joel.

"I'm Tess," The woman introduced, stepping forward to offer a hand to him. "This is my partner, Joel."

Kumi shook it reluctantly, somewhat taken aback by her strong personality. "Kumi Berko." He introduced himself in turn.

"We're working from the Boston QZ. We did some business with Meyer for a while after he left the Fireflies." Tess filled in helpfully.

Kumi decided he liked her. "The Fireflies?" That was something new, though he'd had his suspicions after uncovering Eugene Linden's journal in Otis' things.

"How many of you are there?" Joel interrupted.

"Just the two of us. Well, four, but we got two waiting an hour out." Kumi replied, watching him uncertainly. He couldn't ascertain whether Joel had a personal issue with Otis or if he was just withdrawn. Maybe the two were just like each other, except Joel's face was weathered with age and a lifetime or hardship.

Joel and Tess seemed close enough to converse with just their eyes.

"Well, don't think any of us are going out there tonight." Joel remarked, eyeing the staircase.

"Meyer, can you help Joel get the stuff up? I am aching all over." Tess requested, pushing on ahead without a qualm. "You guys just sheltering here or?" She took on with Kumi since he was the more talkative one, leaving the two quieter men to do the rest.

"We were getting some supplies." Kumi briefly looked back to Otis, getting a light gesture to confirm he was good to go ahead with her. "What's up with your Joel guy?" He asked Tess once they were just out of earshot.

"What do you mean?" She asked, looking on ahead like she had no idea what he was talking about.

"Something wrong between him and Otis?" Kumi would lead the way to the bar since it was a more ideal location to haul up.

"Oh, that." Tess hummed, perhaps debating how much to tell him. "Joel's brother, Tommy, kind of had a falling out with him. Otis just showed up one day recruiting for the Fireflies and Tommy was all too happy to go." She recalled. "I guess Joel just can't move past the idea that Tommy's running 'round after Marlene still. Especially when Otis came to Boston, last word of Tommy being that he'd left Denver for Jackson."

Kumi took some minutes to process the information while they shuffled some furniture around to create a comfortable space to camp.

"If you ask me, it's all misplaced anger. He just wants his brother back, but instead he got Otis." Tess laughed, setting her hands on her hips as she surveyed the arrangement.

"Sounds more personal than that to me." Kumi sensed there was more that she wasn't telling him, but he would get it out of Otis in due time.

Joel gave Tess a look as he entered the room, the boxes being carried over by him and Otis.

"Hey, how about we eat something before we get some rest?" Tess broke up the friction.

Kumi looked to Otis. Was she expecting them to provide the supplies?

"It's not food." Joel said by way of dismissing any possible thoughts of running off with whatever they had in the boxes.

Otis could guess by their weight that they were firearms. He left that conversation alone though, retrieving a couple of cans of beans from his bag and tossing them to Kumi to set on the burner.

They'd have to share to conserve what they'd found. They still had a big demand to fill before they went back to the QZ.

Joel and Tess were quietly whispering about something by the bar counter while she checked for any surviving bottles of liquor.

Otis set his bag on a table, retrieving his notepad to write something down.

Kumi gravitated towards him, casting a brief glance at the other pair before focusing on him. "Do they know we're Hunters?" He whispered quietly.

Otis gave a light shake of his head.

"That guy makes me uneasy." Kumi confided, earning a soundless scoff of amusement. He briefly cast a glance back at Joel, catching Tess' eye. He gave her an amiable nod in greeting which she returned with a smile. "We could've taken their gear." He mumbled to Otis, tearing his gaze away from the pretty woman.

Otis paused in whatever he was writing to quickly scrawl down a 'NO.' emphasised with a line underneath.

Kumi was disgruntled. "We don't owe them shit to be feeding them. That stuff's gotta be worth something if they're smuggling it." He argued.

Another line was added under the refusal.

Kumi sighed. "Fine."

Otis nudged him to get his attention again, turning the page over to show him what he'd been writing earlier.

'You have Dom to think about.' It read. 'Don't cross Tess.'

Kumi frowned lightly. Why was Tess the problem?

"Hey, Otis." Tess interrupted before Kumi could whisper anymore conspiracies, drawing something out of her bag. She held it out to the man. "You left it behind in Boston. Joel's been hanging on to it. We were planning to give it back to you at Bill's place but you and Layla never showed up."

Otis took the pendant, turning it over in his hand idly before sliding it into his pocket. It was his Firefly pendant. He'd left it because he didn't care to have it.

Unlike Otto's, Otis didn't have any attachment to the old thing. It was just a piece of metal marked with his name. Otto's was the only thing left from him, and the ring the only thing he had from Mary.

They'd been his only family.

"I'm holding on to the ration cards though." Tess claimed, a cheeky smile pulling at her mouth.

"Keep them." Otis dismissed. He had no use for them anyway.

"Your throat sounds awful." Tess remarked with a laugh. "How the hell did you end up swallowing needles?" She inquired, ever fascinated with the morbid things.

She was probably taking notes for her torture sessions as far as Otis was concerned.

He crossed his arms, leaning back against the table as he watched her.

"I know that look. You're about to tell me to mind my own business."

"What about Layla Amin?" Joel asked, setting his things down near the wall where he could easily keep an eye on everyone in the room as well as the door. "She been swallowing needles too?"

Otis didn't seem to appreciate the jibe, his eyes narrowing a fraction at him.

Joel made a passive gesture like it was an innocent question which Tess seemed to find amusing.

"Foot in your mouth, Texas." She quipped.

"Layla's fine actually." Kumi cut in. "You guys know anything about Eugene?"

Joel and Tess exchanged glances, Otis giving Kumi a warning look not to pursue that line of questioning because it wasn't his business to ask, but Kumi ignored him.

"Eugene?" Joel repeated like the name was something he hadn't heard in so long that it was strange to ask now.

"Linden." Kumi pressed as though it would help jog his memory.

"Why don't you ask that one? I weren't a Firefly." Joel indicated Otis. "Who knows, maybe he swallowed needles too."

"Okay, that's not funny now, you stop that." Tess scolded him disingenuously, clearly trying to hold back her laugh. "Otis, you know he's just messing around-!" She protested when Otis took off. She briefly cast a glance back at Joel who shrugged as Kumi followed after Otis.

"It weren't me who brought up Eugene." Joel pointed out when Tess turned on him.

"You think it was that that upset him?" She questioned.

"Meyer can take a joke." Joel assured her. "It weren't nothing you or I said, trust me." He insisted.

Please R&R!